Water-level controller.



Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

2- SHEETS-SHEET 1.

f1 A. RAY.

WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.

of mi? WATER LEVEL CONTROLLER.

P. A. RAY.

GATIUN FILED` 00T. 20, 1904.

Patented l111113, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Waffe@ a ma 1st-@Eg STA@ 'i 'is l15%1155717 01511311015, i

WATER-LEVEL CON'SLRDIALER.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed October 20, 1904. Serial No. 229,272.

of subjection to sudden variations of heat and to unequal degrees of heating of the tubes and outer shell without injury to any part and without causing leakage at any point; and a further objectis to provide a novel automatic controller for governing the admission of feed-water to such a boiler to maintain the level of water therein at a constant height.

The boiler illustrated is designed particularly for application in an apparatus of the kind described in my pending application Serial No. 217,874, filed July 23, 1904, though its use is not restricted to such appli-r cation and its improved features may be used with any other known type of boiler.

Hitherto it has never b'een'possible to heat a boiler quickly or to run with the water at a low level without causing the connections of the boiler-tubes with the heads to become loosened or injuring the tubes so as to permit such excessive leakage as to render the boiler useless in a very short time, nor is it possible even with the best of care to run a boiler under the most favorable conditions of service without some leakage and more or less rapid loosening and deterioration of the parts owing to unequal expansion and contraction.

By my inventioi'i I have provided a construction by which expansion of the tubes relative to the boiler-shell is permitted without the least injury resulting to any part, and mechanism by which the water-level is automatically maintained at a constant height, thereby obviating` danger of overheating consequent on the water becoming low.

The invention consists of the novel apparatus hereinafter described and claimed.

Of the accompanying drawings,-Figure l ixpresents a side elevation of my improved boiler and a sectional view of the apparatus for controlling the level of water therein.. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation on an enlarged scale, of the boiler alone. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4:. Fig. 4 represents a cross section. Fig. 5 represents a detail sectional view of a slip-joint connection between one of the tubes and a tubesheet of the boiler.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 1 represents the boiler which in the embodiment of the invention illustrated comprises a shell 2 to the opposite ends of which are attached by means of screw-threaded connections, heads 3 and 4; constituting tube-sheets in which the longitudinal fire-tubes 5 are secured. A. burner 6 of the Bunsen type adapted to burn gas or hydrocarbon vapor mixed with air furnishes the heat by which the water in the boiler may be evaporated. Boilers of this character in which the heating means consists of an intense Haine applied locally are subjected to great variations of heat and to very unequal heating of the tubes and shell, nearly all of the heat of the flame being directed against the former, while very little of the direct heat acts upon the latter. Consequently7 very unequal expansion and contraction of these parts results. Hitherto it has been practically impossible to use boilers having straight, longitudinal tubes for the uses to which this boiler is intended to be applied on account of the distortion referred to and severe strains resulting therefrom, which cause leakage and rapid deterioration of the boiler, and it has been usual to provide boilers of this type with bent or coiled tubes to allow for the relative expansion. I have, however, by my invention provided a form of connection of the tubes with the boiler-heads by which relative motion of the tubes to the boiler-shell to allow for the relative variations of length resulting from the unequal expansion and contraction ofthe tubes and shell is permitted. As shown in Fig. 3, the tubes are connected at one end with one of the boiler-heads by a rigid connection which is preferably yformed by providing screw-threads upon the ends of the tubes fitting into tap-holes in the head, although the connection mayT be made by si1nply expanding the ends of the tubes in thc ordinary way. Between the other boilerhead and the tubes slip-joint connections are provided by forming holes in the head through which the tubes are free to move as they expand or contract. As shown in the drawings, the rigid connection is made with the lower head 4, while the slip connection is in the Lipper head 3, but this arrangementv may be reversed if desired.

A steam-tight joint to permit ot the relative motion of the tubes to the boiler while preventing the escape of steam is provided for each of the tubes by forming the holes through which the tubes extend of two portions of different diameters, which consti'- tutes an annular flange 7 closely surrounding each tube, and an enlarged chamber S in which asbestos or other packing 9 may be inserted. A n annular nut 10 shaped so as to fit loosely about the end of the tube is screwed into the enlarged portion ot each hole to compress the packing tightly about the tube therein. In this construction it is evident that the ends of the tubes are free to move longitudinally through the upper tube-sheet as they expand or contract and that no amount of distortion due to unequal or sudden heating will injure the boiler in the least or even cause the slightest amount of leakage. lith a boiler of this construction the full heat of the flame may be suddenly applied and thus steam may be generated in the minimum of time, and also the water may be allowed to evaporate entirely, leaving the boiler perfectly dry without risk ot injury.

Although I have spoken of this boiler as being particularly adapted for use in counection with iny apparatus described in the pending application before referred to, it is evident that the boiler may be applied to any other desired use, one such application in which it would be especially useful being for automobiles and small steam turbines. In automobile boilers the heat is furnished b v a burner of the character referred to and the severe usage which these boilers receive causes them to quickly vbecome leaky and useless, owing to the inn'iossibility ot' maintaining the joints between the tubes and tube-sheets tight under all conditions ot' unequal expansion and contraction. IVith my invention applied to such boilers, however, all of these troubles will be avoided.

The preferred embodiment ot my novel form ot water-level controller for use with this type of boiler when it employed for stationary work consists or' a casing 11 having an interior chamber l2 tightly closed except for connections 13 leading to thc upper end of the boiler and 14 leading to the lower end below the normal level ot the water therein. By means ct these connections the water and steam have free communication between the boiler and casing so that the water-level and pressure in the chamber 12 correspond to those in the boiler. The feed-water is furnished through the pipes 15 16 1T and 18 from any suitable water supply having sufiicient pressure to overcome the boiler pressure to an inlet 19 openinointo the connection 14. A valve 2O preterably consisting of a rod having its end ground to tit accurately upon a valveseat about the inlet 19 is provided to alternately shut olf and admit the flow of water through the inlet. This valve is attached to a yoke 2l surrounding the inlet nozzle 22 and connected to a ball-float 23 which is placed Within the casing 11 and supported by the water therein. Guides Qet 25 sur round the valve member 2O and a rod 9.6 connected to the upper part of the float to constrain the float and valve to move in a vertical line. The guides are constructed to permit the free flow of steam and water past them.

The operation of the controller will be readily understood from the illustration given.

As the water-level lowers in the boiler, it is lowered correspondingly in the chamber 12, which causes the float to drop a slight amount, separating the valve 20 from the inlet 19 and allowing water to low through the pipe line into the connection 14: and so to the boiler. As the water-level in the latter rises, it is correspondingly raised in the chamber 12 and the float is thereby elevated to bring the valve 2O again into contact with its seat and so sluit ott' the flow. A checkvalve 2T is provided in the lower connection between the boiler and the inlet19 adapted to permit intlow ol*I the water and to prevent its flowing back from the boiler. This is to prevent surging of the water back and forth and so keep the float steady. IVhen this valve is omitted the agitation of the water as it boils is liable to cause the float to move up and down at 'times and prevents the etlicient operation of the controller.

rI`he portion 1T of the feed-pipe is surrounded by a sleeve 28 which is connected with the boiler by a pipe Q0 whereby it is kept full of steam and thereby is caused to constitute a steam-jacket surrounding the pipe 1T and heating the feed-water in said pipe. r1`he lower end o1" the jacket. opens into a bjr-pass 30 leading to the lower part of the connection 14 and allows the steam condensing in the jacket to flow into the boiler with the feed-water. The feed-water flowing from the inletthrough the connection 14, into which the b v-pass 30 opens, induces a ilcw ot water through the by-pass and so produc-es and maintains a circulation in the steam-jacket.

In many instances in which this boilerand controller may be used it is practicable to supply the feed-water directly from the city water supply and in order to insure a constant feed in case the supply from the main should be shut oit, an auxiliary reservoir and pressure-chamber 81 is provided. This chamber has a pipe 32 connecting with the pipe 16 and leading by a connection 33 to the lower part of the chamber. As the water flows through the pipe 15 to the feed connections above described, it also flows through the connections 32 and 33 into the chamber 31, compressing the air contained in the upper part of said chamber to an amount equal to the pressure of the supply. Whenever the main supply is shut off, the pressure in the chamber 31 causes the Water therein contained to flow into the boiler, A checkvalve 3e placed between the pipe 15. and its connection to the pipes 16 and 32 permits water to flow from 15 into the latter-named pipe, but prevents its flowing back when water is being supplied from the reserve chamber 31. A stutling-box 36 surrounding the pipe 1T prevents the escape of steam from the jacket 2S.

It is evident that many changes might be made in the relative arrangement and disn position of the parts described as the exact arrangement is not essential to the exercise of my invention. The inlet 19 and valve 2O might bc located at any convenient point other than in the connection 11i, the only limitation being that the inlet should be located in such a position as to cause water to flow into the lower part of the boiler, and the valve should be in such position that it can be actuated by the iioat Q3.

It has been found in manyr instances that a hollow ball-float is not adapted to be used in a chamber wherein the pressure is very high, as such high pressure has a tendency to and does frequently cause the floats to collapse. I have overcome such tendency by providing a means for supplying pressure in the interior of the float which will vary proportionally to the pressure in the casing surrounding the float. This object is accomplished by providing a small quantity 37 of water or other volatile liquid in the interior of the float and tightly sealing the latter. As the steam pressure in the chamber 12 increases its temperature likewise increases and causes evaporation of the volume of water 37 and increase in the pressure of the vapor so produced. This pressure will in crease proportionally to the increase in boiler pressurewhereby the collapsing tendency of the latter is counteracted. Conversely, as the boiler pressure diminishes and the temperature of the steam decreases,

the temperature and pressure in the interior of the float are correspondingly diminished.

By this invention I have provided an automatic controller which will efficiently regulate the supply of water to the boiler without an)T attention for an indefinite period of time.

The connecting' nipple 39 between the chamber 14: and the by-pass 30 is provided with a restricted portion 4() for limiting the rapidity of flow from chamber 14 to the boiler connection.

I claim 1. In combination with a boiler a waterlevel controller therefor, comprising a closed chamber formed with an enlarged float-containing portion and an extension in vertical axial alinement therewith and having conneetions with the boiler above and below the level of the water therein, whereby a uniform level of water is maintained in the boiler and chamber, an inlet foradmitting water to the chamber connected to the water supply, a float. in the enlarged portion of said chamber supported by the water therein, a member in the extension of said chamber connected directly to said float and actuated thereby to close the water inlet when the water level and ioat rise above a predetermined point, and to open the inlet when the Water level and float fall below said point, a water supply pipe extending beside and approximately parallel to the controller for conducting water to the inlet., and a jacket surrounding the water supply pipe and connected respectively with the water and steam spaces of the boiler for heating the feed water before it is admitted to said inlet..

2. In combination with a boiler, a waterlevel controller therefor comprising aclosed chamber having connections with the boiler above and below' the level of the water therein, whereby a uniform level of water is maintained in the boiler and chamber, an inlet for admitting water to the boiler connected to the water supply, a float in said chamber supported by the water therein, a member connected for actuation by said float to close the water-inlet when the water-level and float rise above a predetermined point, and to open the inlet when the water-level and float fall below said point, a steam jacket surrounding a portion of the feed-pipe leading to the inlet, connections for adi'nitting steam to said jacket, and a water outlet eon nection from said jacket opening into the boiler, thev feed-water inlet being joined to said connection, whereby a circulation in the jacket is maintained by the iiow of feedwater to the boiler.

3. A water-level controller for a boiler consisting of a casing having an internal chamber, an inlet-nozzle projecting into the casing having a passage adapted to be connected to the feed-water supply and opening downwardly into the casing, a valve arranged below and in line with the opening of said passage, a float above the same, connections between the valve and float including a yoke extending on both sides of the nozzle, carrying the valve, and a rod connected to the yoke and float, and fittings having internal passages communicating with the internal chamber of the casing and adapted to be connected with the steam and water spaces of a boiler, the whole constituting, when assembled, a single unitary structure.

V ber connected to the boiler above and below the normal Water-level therein, a feed-Water inlet, a valve therefor for governing the feed, means Within the casing for actuating the valve, a Water reservoir and pressure chamber, a connection therefrom to the feed- Water inlet, a supply-pipe for Water under pressure joined to said connection intermediate the reservoir and the feed-Water inlet, and a check-valve in said supply-pipe. In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

FOREST A. RAY, Witnesses:

A. C. RATIGAN, C. F. BROWN. 

